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Brahma-khaṇḍa · Chapter 1

Chapter 1

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Brahma-khaṇḍa · Chapter 1

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श्रीगणेशाय नमः ।। ।। अथ ब्रह्मवैवर्ते ब्रह्मखण्डम् ।। गणेशब्रह्मशसुरेशशेषाः सुराश्च सर्वे मनवो मुनीन्द्राः ।। सरस्वतीश्रीगिरिजादिकाश्च यं नमन्ति देव्यः प्रणमामि तं विभुम।।१।। स्थूलास्तनूर्विदधतं त्रिगुणं विराजं विश्वानि लोमविवरेषु महान्तमाद्यम्।। सृष्ट्युन्मुखः स्वकलयाऽपि ससर्ज सूक्ष्मं नित्यं समेत्य हृदि यस्तमजं भजामि।।२।। ध्यायन्ते ध्याननिष्ठाः सुरनरमनवो योगिनो योगरूढाः सन्तः स्वप्नेऽपि सन्तं कतिकतिजनिभिर्यं न पश्यन्ति तप्त्वा ।। ध्याये स्वेच्छामयं तं त्रिगुणपरमहो निर्विकारं निरीहं भक्त्या ध्यानैकहेतोर्निरुपमरुचिरश्यामरूपं दधानम् ।। ३ ।। वन्दे कृष्णं गुणातीतं परं ब्रह्माच्युतं यतः ।। आविर्बभूवुः प्रकृतिब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादयः ।।४।। ॐ नमो भगवते वासु देवाय ।। नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् ।। देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ।। १ ।। अमृतपरमपूर्वं भारतीकामधेनुं श्रुतिगणकृतवत्सो व्यासदेवो दुदोह ।। अतिरुचिरपुराणं ब्रह्मवैवर्त्तमेतत्पिबत पिबत मुग्धा दुग्धमक्षय्यमिष्टम्।।२।। भारते नैमिषारण्ये ऋषयः शौनकादयः ।। नित्यां नैमित्तिकीं कृत्वा क्रियामूषुः कुशासने ।। १ ।। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे सौतिमागच्छन्तं यदृच्छया ।। प्रणतं सुविनीतं तं विलोक्य ददुरासनम् ।। २।। तं सम्पूज्यातिथिं भक्त्या शौनको मुनिपुङ्गवः।। पप्रच्छ कुशलं शांतं शान्तः पौराणिकं मुदा ।। ३ ।। वर्त्मायासविनिर्मुक्तं वसन्तं सुस्थिरासने ।। सस्मितं सर्वतत्त्वज्ञं पुराणानां पुराणवित् ।। ४ ।। परं कृष्णकथोपेतं पुराणं श्रुति संमतम्।। मङ्गलं मङ्गलार्हं च मङ्गल्यं मङ्गलालयम् ।। ५ ।। सर्वमङ्गलबीजं च सर्वदा मङ्गलप्रदम् ।। सर्वामङ्गलनिघ्नं च सर्वसंपत्करं परम् ।। ६ ।। हरिभक्तिप्रदं शश्वत्सुखदं मोक्षदं भवात् ।। तत्त्वज्ञानप्रदं दारपुत्रपौत्रविवर्द्धनम् ।। ७ ।। पप्रच्छ सुविनीतं च सुप्रीतो मुनिसंसदि ।। यथाऽऽकाशे तारकाणां द्विजराजो विराजते ।। ८ ।। ।। शौनक उवाच ।। ।। प्रस्थानं भवतः कुत्र कुत आयासि ते शिवम् ।। किमस्माकं पुण्यदिनमद्य त्वद्दर्शनेन च ।। ९ ।। वयमेव कलौ भीता विशिष्टज्ञानवर्जिताः ।। मुमुक्षवो भवे मग्नास्तद्धेतुस्त्वमिहागतः ।। 1.1.१० ।। भवान्साधुर्महाभागः पुराणेषु पुराणवित् ।। सर्वेषु च पुराणेषु निष्णातोऽतिकृपानिधिः ।। ११ ।। श्रीकृष्णे निश्चला भक्तिर्यतो भवति शाश्वती ।। तत्कथ्यतां महाभाग पुराणं ज्ञानवर्द्धनम् ।। १२ ।। गरीयसी या साक्षाच्च कर्ममूलनिकृन्तनी ।। संसारसन्निबद्धानां निगडच्छेदकर्तरी ।। १३ ।। भवदावाग्निदग्धानां पीयूष वृष्टिवर्षिणी ।। सुखदाऽऽनन्ददा सौते शश्वच्चेतसि जीविनाम् ।। १४ ।। यत्रादौ सर्वबीजं च परं ब्रह्मनिरूपणम् ।। तस्य सृष्ट्युन्मुखस्यापि सृष्टेरुत्कीर्त्तनं परम्।। १५ ।। साकारं वा निराकारं परमात्मस्वरूपकम् ।। किमाकारञ्च तद्ब्रह्म तद्ध्यानं किञ्च भावनम् ।। १६ ।। ध्यायन्ते वैष्णवाः किंवा शान्ताश्च योगिनस्तथा ।। मतं प्रधानं केषां वा गूढं वेदे निरूपितम् ।। १७ ।। प्रकृतेश्च य आकारो यत्र वत्सनिरूपितः ।। गुणानां लक्षणं यत्र महदादेश्च निश्चयः ।। १८ ।। गोलोकवर्णनं यत्र यत्र वैकुण्ठवर्णनम् ।। वर्णनं शिवलोकस्य यत्रान्यत् स्वर्गवर्णनम् ।। १९ ।। अंशानां च कलानां च यत्र सौते निरूपणम् ।। के प्राकृताः का प्रकृतिः क आत्मा प्रकृतेः परः ।। 1.1.२० ।। निगूढं जन्म येषां वा देवानां देवयोषिताम् ।। समुत्पत्तिः समुद्राणां शैलानां सरितामपि ।। २१ ।। के वांऽशाः प्रकृतेश्चापि कलाः का वा कलाकलाः ।। तासाञ्च चरितं ध्यानं पूजास्तोत्रादिकं शुभम् ।। २२ ।। दुर्गा सरस्वती लक्ष्मी सावित्रीणाञ्च वर्णनम् ।। यत्रैव राधिकाख्यानमत्यपूर्वं सुधोपमम् ।। २३ ।। जीवकर्मविपाकश्च नरकाणाञ्च वर्णनम् ।। कर्मणां खण्डनं यत्र यत्र तेभ्यो विमोक्षणम् ।। २४ ।। येषाञ्च जीविनां यद्यत्स्थानं यत्र शुभाशुभम्।। जीविनां कर्मणो यस्माद्यासु यासु च योनिषु।। २५ ।। जीविनां कर्मणो यस्माद्योयो रोगो भवेदिह ।। मोक्षणं कर्मणो यस्मात्तेषाञ्च तन्निरूपय ।। २६ ।। मनसा तुलसी काली गङ्गा पृध्वी वसुन्धरा ।। आसां यत्र शुभाख्यानमन्यासामपि यत्र वै ।। २७ ।। शालिग्रामशिलानाञ्च दानानाञ्च निरूपणम् ।। अपूर्वं यत्र वा सौते धर्माधर्मनिरूपणम् ।। २८ ।। गणेश्वरस्य चरितं यत्र तज्जन्म कर्म च ।। कवचस्तोत्रमन्त्राणां गूढानां यत्र वर्णनम् ।। २९ ।। यदपूर्वमुपाख्यानमश्रुतं परमाद्भुतम् ।। कृत्वा मनसि तत्सर्वं साम्प्रतं वक्तुमर्हसि ।। 1.1.३० ।। यत्र जन्म भ्रमो विश्वे पुण्यक्षेत्रे च भारते ।। परिपूर्णतमस्यापि कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः ।। ३१ ।। जन्म कस्य गृहे लब्धं पुण्ये पुण्यवतो मुने ।। सुतं प्रसूता का धन्या मान्या पुण्यवती सती ।। ३२ ।। आविर्भूय च तद्गेहात्क्वागतः केन हेतुना ।। गत्वा किं कृतवांस्तत्र कथं वा पुनरागतः ।। ३३ ।। भारावतरणं केन प्रार्थितो गोश्चकार सः ।। विधाय किंवा सेतुं च गोलोकं गतवान्पुनः ।। ३४ ।। इतीदमन्यदाख्यानं पुराणं श्रुतिदुर्लभम् ।। दुर्विज्ञेयं मुनीनां च मनोनिर्मलकारणम् ।। ३५ ।। स्वज्ञानाद्यन्मया पृष्टमपृष्टं वा शुभाशुभम् ।। सद्यो वैराग्यजननं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ।। ३६ ।। शिष्यपृष्टमपृष्टं वा व्याख्यानं कुरुते च यः ।। स सद्गुरुः सतां श्रेष्ठो योग्यायोग्ये च यः समः ।। ३७ ।। सौतिरुवाच ।। सर्वं कुशलमस्माकं त्वत्पादपद्मदर्शनात् ।। सिद्धक्षेत्रादागतोऽहं यामि नारायणाश्रमम् ।। ३८ ।। दृष्ट्वा विप्रसमूहं च नमस्कर्तुमिहागतः ।। द्रष्टुं च नैमिषारण्यं पुण्यदं चापि भारते ।। ३९ ।। देवं विप्रं गुरुं दृष्ट्वा न नमेद्यस्तु संभ्रमात् ।। स कालसूत्रं व्रजति यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ ।। 1.1.४० ।। हरिर्ब्राह्मणरूपेक्षण शश्वद् भ्रमति भूतले ।। सुकृती प्रणमेत्पुण्याद्ब्राह्मणं हरिरूपिणम् ।। ४१ ।। भगवन्यत्त्वया पृष्टं ज्ञातं सर्वमभीप्सितम् ।। सारभूतं पुराणेषु ब्रह्मवैवर्त्तमुत्तमम् ।। ।। ४२ ।। पुराणोपपुराणानां वेदानां भ्रमभञ्जनम् ।। हरिभक्तिप्रदं सर्वतत्त्वज्ञानविवर्द्धनम् ।। ४३ ।। कामिनां कामदं चेदं मुमुक्षूणां च मोक्षदम् ।। भक्तिप्रदं वैष्णवानां कल्पवृक्षस्वरूपकम् ।। ४४ ।। ब्रह्मखण्डं सर्वबीजं परब्रह्मनिरूपणम् ।। ध्यायन्ते योगिनः सन्तो वैष्णवा यत्परात्परम् ।।४५।। वैष्णवा योगिनः सन्तो न च भिन्नाश्च शौनक ।। स्वाज्ञानपरिपाकेन भवन्ति जीविनः क्रमात् ।। ।।४६।। सन्तो भवन्ति सत्सङ्गाद्योगिसंगेन योगिनः ।। वैष्णवा भक्तसंगेन क्रमात्सद्योगिनः पराः ।।४७।। यत्रोद्भवश्च देवानां देवीनां सर्वजीविनाम् ।। ततः प्रकृतिखण्डे च देवीनां चरितं शुभम् ।। ४८ ।। जीवकर्मविपाकश्च शालिग्रामनिरूपणम् ।। तासां च कवच स्तोत्रमन्त्रपूजानिरूपणम् ।। ४९ ।। प्रकृतेर्लक्षणं तत्र कलांशानां निरूपणम् ।। कीर्त्तेरुत्कीर्तनं तासां प्रभावश्च निरूपितः ।। 1.1.५० ।। सुकृतीनां दुष्कृतीनां यद्यत्स्थानं शुभाशुभम् ।। वर्णनं नरकाणां च रोगाणां मोक्षणं ततः ।। ५१ ।। ततो गणेशखण्डे च तज्जन्म परिकीर्तितम् ।। अतीवापूर्वचरितं श्रुतिवेदसुदुर्लभम् ।। ५२ ।। गणेशभृगुसंवादे सर्वतत्त्वनिरूपणम् ।। निगूढकवचस्तोत्रमन्त्रतन्त्र निरूपणम् ।। ५३ ।। श्रीकृष्णजन्मखण्डं च कीर्तितं च ततः परम् ।। भारते पुण्यक्षेत्रे च श्रीकृष्णजन्म कर्म च ।। ५४ ।। भुवो भारावतरणं क्रीडाकौतुकमङ्गलम् ।। सतां सेतुविधानं च जन्मखण्डे निरूपितम् ।। ५५ ।। इदं ते कथितं विप्र पुराणप्रवरं परम् ।। चतुःखण्डैः परिमितं सर्वधर्मनिरूपणम् ।। ५६ ।। सर्वेषामीप्सितं श्रीदं सर्वाशापूर्णकारणम् ।। ब्रह्मवैवर्तकं नाम सर्वाभीष्टफलप्रदम् ।। ५७ ।। सारभूतं पुराणेषु केवलं वेदसंमितम् ।। विवृतं ब्रह्मकार्त्स्न्यं च कृष्णेन यत्र शौनक ।। ५८ ।। ब्रह्मवैवर्तकं तेन प्रवदन्ति पुराविदः ।। इदं पुराणसूत्रं च पुरा दत्तं च ब्रह्मणे ।। ५९ ।। निरामये च गोलोके कृष्णेन परमात्मना ।। महातीर्थे पुष्करे च दत्तं धर्माय ब्रह्मणा ।।1.1.६०।। धर्मेण दत्तं पुत्राय प्रीत्या नारायणाय च ।।६१।। नारदो व्यासदेवाय प्रददौ जाह्नवीतटे ।। व्यासः पुराणसूत्रं तत्संव्यस्य विपुलं महत् ।। ६२ ।। मह्यं ददौ सिद्धक्षेत्रे पुण्यदेशे मनोहरम् ।। मयेदं कथितं ब्रह्मंस्तत्समग्रं निशामय ।। ६३ ।। अष्टादशसहस्रं तु व्यासेनेदं पुराणकम् ।। पुराणकार्त्स्न्यश्रवणे यत्फलं लभते नरः ।। तत्फलं लभते नूनमध्यायश्रवणेन च ।। ६४ ।। इति श्रीब्रह्मवैवर्ते महापुराणे सौतिशौनकसंवादे ब्रह्मखण्डेऽनुक्रमणिका नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः ।। १ ।।

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ || || atha brahmavaivarte brahmakhaṇḍam || gaṇeśabrahmaśasureśaśeṣāḥ surāśca sarve manavo munīndrāḥ || sarasvatīśrīgirijādikāśca yaṃ namanti devyaḥ praṇamāmi taṃ vibhuma||1|| sthūlāstanūrvidadhataṃ triguṇaṃ virājaṃ viśvāni lomavivareṣu mahāntamādyam|| sṛṣṭyunmukhaḥ svakalayā'pi sasarja sūkṣmaṃ nityaṃ sametya hṛdi yastamajaṃ bhajāmi||2|| dhyāyante dhyānaniṣṭhāḥ suranaramanavo yogino yogarūḍhāḥ santaḥ svapne'pi santaṃ katikatijanibhiryaṃ na paśyanti taptvā || dhyāye svecchāmayaṃ taṃ triguṇaparamaho nirvikāraṃ nirīhaṃ bhaktyā dhyānaikahetornirupamaruciraśyāmarūpaṃ dadhānam || 3 || vande kṛṣṇaṃ guṇātītaṃ paraṃ brahmācyutaṃ yataḥ || āvirbabhūvuḥ prakṛtibrahmaviṣṇuśivādayaḥ ||4|| oṃ namo bhagavate vāsu devāya || nārāyaṇaṃ namaskṛtya naraṃ caiva narottamam || devīṃ sarasvatīṃ vyāsaṃ tato jayamudīrayet || 1 || amṛtaparamapūrvaṃ bhāratīkāmadhenuṃ śrutigaṇakṛtavatso vyāsadevo dudoha || atirucirapurāṇaṃ brahmavaivarttametatpibata pibata mugdhā dugdhamakṣayyamiṣṭam||2|| bhārate naimiṣāraṇye ṛṣayaḥ śaunakādayaḥ || nityāṃ naimittikīṃ kṛtvā kriyāmūṣuḥ kuśāsane || 1 || etasminnantare sautimāgacchantaṃ yadṛcchayā || praṇataṃ suvinītaṃ taṃ vilokya dadurāsanam || 2|| taṃ sampūjyātithiṃ bhaktyā śaunako munipuṅgavaḥ|| papraccha kuśalaṃ śāṃtaṃ śāntaḥ paurāṇikaṃ mudā || 3 || vartmāyāsavinirmuktaṃ vasantaṃ susthirāsane || sasmitaṃ sarvatattvajñaṃ purāṇānāṃ purāṇavit || 4 || paraṃ kṛṣṇakathopetaṃ purāṇaṃ śruti saṃmatam|| maṅgalaṃ maṅgalārhaṃ ca maṅgalyaṃ maṅgalālayam || 5 || sarvamaṅgalabījaṃ ca sarvadā maṅgalapradam || sarvāmaṅgalanighnaṃ ca sarvasaṃpatkaraṃ param || 6 || haribhaktipradaṃ śaśvatsukhadaṃ mokṣadaṃ bhavāt || tattvajñānapradaṃ dāraputrapautravivarddhanam || 7 || papraccha suvinītaṃ ca suprīto munisaṃsadi || yathā''kāśe tārakāṇāṃ dvijarājo virājate || 8 || || śaunaka uvāca || || prasthānaṃ bhavataḥ kutra kuta āyāsi te śivam || kimasmākaṃ puṇyadinamadya tvaddarśanena ca || 9 || vayameva kalau bhītā viśiṣṭajñānavarjitāḥ || mumukṣavo bhave magnāstaddhetustvamihāgataḥ || 1.1.10 || bhavānsādhurmahābhāgaḥ purāṇeṣu purāṇavit || sarveṣu ca purāṇeṣu niṣṇāto'tikṛpānidhiḥ || 11 || śrīkṛṣṇe niścalā bhaktiryato bhavati śāśvatī || tatkathyatāṃ mahābhāga purāṇaṃ jñānavarddhanam || 12 || garīyasī yā sākṣācca karmamūlanikṛntanī || saṃsārasannibaddhānāṃ nigaḍacchedakartarī || 13 || bhavadāvāgnidagdhānāṃ pīyūṣa vṛṣṭivarṣiṇī || sukhadā''nandadā saute śaśvaccetasi jīvinām || 14 || yatrādau sarvabījaṃ ca paraṃ brahmanirūpaṇam || tasya sṛṣṭyunmukhasyāpi sṛṣṭerutkīrttanaṃ param|| 15 || sākāraṃ vā nirākāraṃ paramātmasvarūpakam || kimākārañca tadbrahma taddhyānaṃ kiñca bhāvanam || 16 || dhyāyante vaiṣṇavāḥ kiṃvā śāntāśca yoginastathā || mataṃ pradhānaṃ keṣāṃ vā gūḍhaṃ vede nirūpitam || 17 || prakṛteśca ya ākāro yatra vatsanirūpitaḥ || guṇānāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ yatra mahadādeśca niścayaḥ || 18 || golokavarṇanaṃ yatra yatra vaikuṇṭhavarṇanam || varṇanaṃ śivalokasya yatrānyat svargavarṇanam || 19 || aṃśānāṃ ca kalānāṃ ca yatra saute nirūpaṇam || ke prākṛtāḥ kā prakṛtiḥ ka ātmā prakṛteḥ paraḥ || 1.1.20 || nigūḍhaṃ janma yeṣāṃ vā devānāṃ devayoṣitām || samutpattiḥ samudrāṇāṃ śailānāṃ saritāmapi || 21 || ke vāṃ'śāḥ prakṛteścāpi kalāḥ kā vā kalākalāḥ || tāsāñca caritaṃ dhyānaṃ pūjāstotrādikaṃ śubham || 22 || durgā sarasvatī lakṣmī sāvitrīṇāñca varṇanam || yatraiva rādhikākhyānamatyapūrvaṃ sudhopamam || 23 || jīvakarmavipākaśca narakāṇāñca varṇanam || karmaṇāṃ khaṇḍanaṃ yatra yatra tebhyo vimokṣaṇam || 24 || yeṣāñca jīvināṃ yadyatsthānaṃ yatra śubhāśubham|| jīvināṃ karmaṇo yasmādyāsu yāsu ca yoniṣu|| 25 || jīvināṃ karmaṇo yasmādyoyo rogo bhavediha || mokṣaṇaṃ karmaṇo yasmātteṣāñca tannirūpaya || 26 || manasā tulasī kālī gaṅgā pṛdhvī vasundharā || āsāṃ yatra śubhākhyānamanyāsāmapi yatra vai || 27 || śāligrāmaśilānāñca dānānāñca nirūpaṇam || apūrvaṃ yatra vā saute dharmādharmanirūpaṇam || 28 || gaṇeśvarasya caritaṃ yatra tajjanma karma ca || kavacastotramantrāṇāṃ gūḍhānāṃ yatra varṇanam || 29 || yadapūrvamupākhyānamaśrutaṃ paramādbhutam || kṛtvā manasi tatsarvaṃ sāmprataṃ vaktumarhasi || 1.1.30 || yatra janma bhramo viśve puṇyakṣetre ca bhārate || paripūrṇatamasyāpi kṛṣṇasya paramātmanaḥ || 31 || janma kasya gṛhe labdhaṃ puṇye puṇyavato mune || sutaṃ prasūtā kā dhanyā mānyā puṇyavatī satī || 32 || āvirbhūya ca tadgehātkvāgataḥ kena hetunā || gatvā kiṃ kṛtavāṃstatra kathaṃ vā punarāgataḥ || 33 || bhārāvataraṇaṃ kena prārthito goścakāra saḥ || vidhāya kiṃvā setuṃ ca golokaṃ gatavānpunaḥ || 34 || itīdamanyadākhyānaṃ purāṇaṃ śrutidurlabham || durvijñeyaṃ munīnāṃ ca manonirmalakāraṇam || 35 || svajñānādyanmayā pṛṣṭamapṛṣṭaṃ vā śubhāśubham || sadyo vairāgyajananaṃ tanme vyākhyātumarhasi || 36 || śiṣyapṛṣṭamapṛṣṭaṃ vā vyākhyānaṃ kurute ca yaḥ || sa sadguruḥ satāṃ śreṣṭho yogyāyogye ca yaḥ samaḥ || 37 || sautiruvāca || sarvaṃ kuśalamasmākaṃ tvatpādapadmadarśanāt || siddhakṣetrādāgato'haṃ yāmi nārāyaṇāśramam || 38 || dṛṣṭvā viprasamūhaṃ ca namaskartumihāgataḥ || draṣṭuṃ ca naimiṣāraṇyaṃ puṇyadaṃ cāpi bhārate || 39 || devaṃ vipraṃ guruṃ dṛṣṭvā na namedyastu saṃbhramāt || sa kālasūtraṃ vrajati yāvaccandradivākarau || 1.1.40 || harirbrāhmaṇarūpekṣaṇa śaśvad bhramati bhūtale || sukṛtī praṇametpuṇyādbrāhmaṇaṃ harirūpiṇam || 41 || bhagavanyattvayā pṛṣṭaṃ jñātaṃ sarvamabhīpsitam || sārabhūtaṃ purāṇeṣu brahmavaivarttamuttamam || || 42 || purāṇopapurāṇānāṃ vedānāṃ bhramabhañjanam || haribhaktipradaṃ sarvatattvajñānavivarddhanam || 43 || kāmināṃ kāmadaṃ cedaṃ mumukṣūṇāṃ ca mokṣadam || bhaktipradaṃ vaiṣṇavānāṃ kalpavṛkṣasvarūpakam || 44 || brahmakhaṇḍaṃ sarvabījaṃ parabrahmanirūpaṇam || dhyāyante yoginaḥ santo vaiṣṇavā yatparātparam ||45|| vaiṣṇavā yoginaḥ santo na ca bhinnāśca śaunaka || svājñānaparipākena bhavanti jīvinaḥ kramāt || ||46|| santo bhavanti satsaṅgādyogisaṃgena yoginaḥ || vaiṣṇavā bhaktasaṃgena kramātsadyoginaḥ parāḥ ||47|| yatrodbhavaśca devānāṃ devīnāṃ sarvajīvinām || tataḥ prakṛtikhaṇḍe ca devīnāṃ caritaṃ śubham || 48 || jīvakarmavipākaśca śāligrāmanirūpaṇam || tāsāṃ ca kavaca stotramantrapūjānirūpaṇam || 49 || prakṛterlakṣaṇaṃ tatra kalāṃśānāṃ nirūpaṇam || kīrtterutkīrtanaṃ tāsāṃ prabhāvaśca nirūpitaḥ || 1.1.50 || sukṛtīnāṃ duṣkṛtīnāṃ yadyatsthānaṃ śubhāśubham || varṇanaṃ narakāṇāṃ ca rogāṇāṃ mokṣaṇaṃ tataḥ || 51 || tato gaṇeśakhaṇḍe ca tajjanma parikīrtitam || atīvāpūrvacaritaṃ śrutivedasudurlabham || 52 || gaṇeśabhṛgusaṃvāde sarvatattvanirūpaṇam || nigūḍhakavacastotramantratantra nirūpaṇam || 53 || śrīkṛṣṇajanmakhaṇḍaṃ ca kīrtitaṃ ca tataḥ param || bhārate puṇyakṣetre ca śrīkṛṣṇajanma karma ca || 54 || bhuvo bhārāvataraṇaṃ krīḍākautukamaṅgalam || satāṃ setuvidhānaṃ ca janmakhaṇḍe nirūpitam || 55 || idaṃ te kathitaṃ vipra purāṇapravaraṃ param || catuḥkhaṇḍaiḥ parimitaṃ sarvadharmanirūpaṇam || 56 || sarveṣāmīpsitaṃ śrīdaṃ sarvāśāpūrṇakāraṇam || brahmavaivartakaṃ nāma sarvābhīṣṭaphalapradam || 57 || sārabhūtaṃ purāṇeṣu kevalaṃ vedasaṃmitam || vivṛtaṃ brahmakārtsnyaṃ ca kṛṣṇena yatra śaunaka || 58 || brahmavaivartakaṃ tena pravadanti purāvidaḥ || idaṃ purāṇasūtraṃ ca purā dattaṃ ca brahmaṇe || 59 || nirāmaye ca goloke kṛṣṇena paramātmanā || mahātīrthe puṣkare ca dattaṃ dharmāya brahmaṇā ||1.1.60|| dharmeṇa dattaṃ putrāya prītyā nārāyaṇāya ca ||61|| nārado vyāsadevāya pradadau jāhnavītaṭe || vyāsaḥ purāṇasūtraṃ tatsaṃvyasya vipulaṃ mahat || 62 || mahyaṃ dadau siddhakṣetre puṇyadeśe manoharam || mayedaṃ kathitaṃ brahmaṃstatsamagraṃ niśāmaya || 63 || aṣṭādaśasahasraṃ tu vyāsenedaṃ purāṇakam || purāṇakārtsnyaśravaṇe yatphalaṃ labhate naraḥ || tatphalaṃ labhate nūnamadhyāyaśravaṇena ca || 64 || iti śrībrahmavaivarte mahāpurāṇe sautiśaunakasaṃvāde brahmakhaṇḍe'nukramaṇikā nāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ || 1 ||

English translation

recitation; introduction and I bow in reverence to the all-pervading lord, who is adored by Ganesa, Brahma, Siva, Indra, serpent Sesa, the gods, all the Manus, the sages, Sarasvatl, Laksmi besides Paravtl and others, The one who has the solid body of three phases with universal form, in whose body innumerable worlds reside, the one who is the primeval person; the one who is engaged in the creation of the universe and the one who resides in the heart of everyone in a tiny form, the same Brahman is adored by me.

All the gods, humans, animals, Manus and the ascetics or yogis, adore him attentively and several of the truth-seekers, adore him performing hard tapas for several births, but are unable to have a trace of him, the same lord is adored by me, who has a beautiful dark I bow in reverence to lord Kr§na who represents the three gunas (elements), out of whose body, Brahma, Visnu and l^iva have Having been saluted to lord Narayana and Nara, the most exalted being, and goddess Sarasvatl, one should recite the Jaya The sage Vyasadeva conceiving Sarasvatl as the wish fulfilling cow and the Vedas as calf, milked the nectar of the theme of the gentlemen, consume this invisible milk.

In the holy place of NaimisSranya, the sacred sages headed by the great sage Saunaka had been performing their daily prayers seated over the kiisdsana. At that point of time Ugrasrava, the son of Suta, suddenly arrived there. He bowed in reverence to all the sages, who offered him a seat of the fcwsa-grass.

Then welcoming the guest, the best of the sages, Saunaka enquired about his welfare, adoring him with devotion and delight.

Getting free from the fatigue of the journey, the sage was seated over jaisdsana. and smilingly put a question to the sage Suta, who was well- read in the Puranas and looked like the moon among the stars. 'The best of the stories, which relates to Lord Krsna, are pleasant to listen to, O bestower of welfare, you are the abode of welfare, the seed of all the welfare, the one who showers grace always and removes all the misfortunes, bestows all the riches, showers the devotion of the lord, which always bestows pleasure and molcsa (salvation). He is the one who imparts divine knowledge and the one who ensures the increase of the family, sons and Saunaka asked; "Where are you going? Where from have you arrived? We feel grateful by your visit today. All of us are terrified because of the Age of Kali and possess no special knowledge.

We are engrossed in the worldly affairs and are desirous of redemption. This (is possibly) the cause of your arrival here. You are noble, immensely virtuous, well-versed in the Puranas, have well-read all the Puranas and are full of compassion. You better tell us about some Purana, by which we might be able to achieve some devotion to Lord Krsna, because, O Son of Suta, the devotion of Lord Krsna is better than even the salvation and it removes the worldly fetters of the human being. It showers nectar over the people who suffer from the cpnflagration of the worldly ills and instils pleasures in the minds of the people”.

You recite the stories from such a Purana, in the beginning of which the seeds of the entire universe are enshrined and is also infested with Parabrahman. It should also deal with elements of Parabrahman in the creation of the universe.

We intend to enquire from you as to whether Paramatma (the great soul) is having the visible or invisible form; what is the true form of the Brahman? How to meditate on or adore the lord?

Whom do the ascetics or the yogis adore? What is the deep tattva propounded in the Vedas?

ftwrOTR I Son, you tell me about the Purana in which the form of nature has been described, besides the symptoms of the virtues, the Mahat, the Goloka, Vaikuntha Sivaloka and the heavens; the arts and the arhsas, O Son of Suta, what are the natural elements? What is nature and what is the soul beyond nature, the gods and the goddesses who are bom on earth secretly, you tell us about them besides the oceans, the mountains, the rivers, their genesis and evolution. Which is integral part of the nature? What are the arts?

Tell us about their character, the meditation, adoration and the sacred recitations and the Puranas in which all these details are enshrined.

rT gT3fTlj;i W df^'lcitrail 9 (i 11 You tell us the name of the Purana, which enshrines the character of Durga, Sarasvati, Laksmi and Savitri, besides the one which contains the stories of Radhika. You also tell us details about the hells achieved by the people and the deeds by which one attains these hells and the remedies to escape these hells. The places which are sacred for the people and those which are unholy may be told to us besides the deeds by performing of which, one achieves a place in the heaven or the hell; please tell us also the deeds, which attract the particular type of ailments and those lead one to salvation.

Son of Suta, you tell us the name of the Purana in which details about Tulasl, Manasa, Kali, Gahga, Vasundhara, PrthivI and the one containing the stories about the goddesses besides the details about the humans having different births. Which are the deeds, attracting the ailments and the deeds which lead one to achieve redemption, you please tell us.” Son of Suta, you tell us about the scripture containing the stories of Sdligrama, the Dharma and the Sin. You also tell us about Ganapati, the deep secrets connected with the god, details about his life, his recitation mantras^ secret kavacaSy the mantras and the surprising stories connected with him. You tell us all about them in detail. You tell us about the Purana enshrining the details about the life of Krsna in (Bharata) India. O sage, in which sacred place was he bom? Who was the chaste and virtuous lady who gave birth to a son like Krsna? Where did he go

after his birth? Why did he leave the place of his birth and what for? What did he do after leaving that place? Then how did he return to his abode?

At whose request he relieved the burden of the earth? What for did he establish the norms? Why did he return again to the Goloka"!

The sages are unaware of the Purana in which the entire details about Krsna are contained and it is beyond their reach. This is the means to cleanse the mind. Whatever good or bad question have been asked by me according to my own knowledge, you enlighten us over the issues raised which would inculcate the sense of vairagya. A good teacher explains the points on which clarifications are asked for as well as those over which no questions are asked.” The son of Suta then said: “All is well (with me) with the grace of your feet. I am coming from the siddha-ksetra and shall go to the Narayanasrama. I have arrived here in order to pay my respects to the group of the Brahmanas and to perform the pilgrimage of the sacred place of Naimisaranya. The one who does not bow in reverence finding a good, a Brahmana and the teacher, he is consigned to the terrible hell and has to remain there till the sun and the moon last.

Visnu roams about the earth in the form of a Brahmana. Therefore a noble person bows in reverence by the grace of Visnu to a Brahmana.

O Sacred Soul, whatever has been asked by you, the gist of the Puranas. This is the Purana, which removes all the doubts about the Puranas and the upa-Puranas. It bestows devotion of Hari and develops the knowledge of all the elements. It grants pleasure to pleasure-seekers and salvation or truth to truth-seekers. It bestows the unfailing devotion on the Vaisnavas and is like the kalpavrksa for them. The eternal Brahman is enshrined therein as a seed of the globe. The yogis and Vaisnavas meditate on him. O Saunaka, there is hardly any difference between a yogi and a Vaisnaiva saint. The humans become Vaisnavas or yogis on the basis of the knowledge they possess. They gradually become great yogis.

Thereafter follows the Prakrti-khanda, which deals with the gods, the goddesses besides the genesis and evolution of all the creatures of the universe in addition to the sacred stories about the female deities. It also deals with the deeds of the humans and Sdligrdma. The kavacas, stotras, mantras and the methods of their adoration are propounded therein. In the Prakrti-khanda the symptoms of the nature, their arhs'as and the stories related thereto are also narrated, besides the glory and their influence on humans. It also describes the merits and demerits one derives by good or bad deeds. The hells which the degraded souls achieve because of their misdeeds on earth and the duration of stay in each hell have been This is followed by Ganesa-khanda which contains the details about the birth of Ganesa and the precious stories related to his life. In the dialogue between Ganesa and Bhrgu, the life

events of Ganes'a, which are quite secret in nature are brought out. The secret kavacas of Ganesa, the mantras and tantras are discussed crM fCMsrat wi;i Thereafter follows the recitation of the Kr§na- janma Khanda (the part relating to the birth of Krsna). It deals with the performance of Krsna, to relieve the land of BhSrata of the burden of the evil people, the pleasure sports of the lord which serve like a bridge for the noble people to cross the ocean of the universe. This is the gist of all religions. The Purina is adored by all and grants them riches besides fulfilling all their desires, SSunaka, ^rl Kfsna has propounded the entire philosophy of Brahman in it and this is also the In the early times, the brief of this Purana was handed down by lord Krsna to Brahma.

Thereafter, BrahmS narrated the same to Dharma at the sacred place of Puskara. Dharma in turn imparted the sacred knowledge to NSrSyapa with a pleasant mind. Lord NSrSyana recited this PurSna to NSrada, who narrated the same to the sage Vyasa at the banks of the Gahga. Analysing the text further and developing it pleasantly, Vyasa imparted its knowledge to me. The merit

Chapter-aligned complete witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource revision 400019 (2023-12-26T21:22:50Z); Shanti Lal Nagar English scan pages n2–n7: https://archive.org/details/brahma-vaivarta-purana-all-four-kandas-english-translation/page/n2/mode/1up. The historic English OCR transcription is lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.